Australian Stocks: ANZ, BHP, Rio Tinto, Transfield, Newcrest

Feb. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index fell
0.9 percent to 4,245.3 at the close in Sydney, erasing its
weekly again, after the Reserve Bank of Australia lowered its
forecasts for growth and inflation this year.

The following were among the most active shares in the
market. Stock symbols are in parentheses after company names.

Aquarius Platinum Ltd. (AQP AU) lost 3.7 percent to A$2.33
after the company yesterday reported a first-half loss of $113.5
million compared to a profit of $94.3 million a year earlier.
Production at all South African mines was negatively affected by
regulatory safety stoppages, the company said.

Rio Tinto Group (RIO AU) dropped 2.3 percent to A$69.98.
The world’s third-largest mining company swung to a second-half
loss, its first in four years, after taking an $8.9 billion one-time charge on the value of its aluminum business. Deutsche Bank
AG estimated on Feb. 6 that Rio Tinto would take a charge of $6
billion on the unit.

Transfield Services Ltd. (TSE AU) jumped 12 percent to
A$2.20 after the provider of services to the oil and gas
industry confirmed its full-year profit forecast will be at
least 17 percent higher than analyst estimates. Net income for
year will be at the lower end of its A$130 million ($139
million) to $135 million range. Analysts forecast a profit of
A$111.5 million, according to the median estimate.